Automobile transmission-gears.



G. F. GROVE. AUTOMOBILE TRANSMISSION GEARS.

APPLICATION FILED OUT. 9, 1913.

Patented Apr. 7, 1914 4 SHBETB SEEBT 1- Ill G. R GROVEV AUTOMOBILE TRANSMISSION GEARS.

APPLIOATIOI FILED OUT. 9,1913,

ATTORNEY.

WI TNESSES:

I e. F. GROVE. AUTOMOBILE TRANSMISSION GEARS. APPLICATION FILED 001'. 9, 1915!.

1,092,211; I Patented Apr. 7, 1 914 4 sums-811mm.

w; @MW W G. F. GROVE.

AUTOMOBILE TRANSMISSION GEARS.

APPLICATION FILED 00s.. 9, 191s.'

Patented Apr. 7, 1914,

4 SHEET$SHEET 4.

WITNESSES: INVENTOR:

GEORGE F. GROVE, OF MADISON .IO'W'NSHIP, MONTGOMERY COUNTY, OHIO.

AUTOMOBILE TRANSMISSION-GEARS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. *7, 1914.

Application fiIed'October 9, 1918. Serial No. 794,342.

To all'whom'it-mog concern: p

Be it known that I. GEORGE F. (.ruovn. amt-men of the i nited States, residing at Madison township, in the county of Montgomery and State of Ohio,'havc invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automobile Transinission-Gears, of which the -f: )llowing is a specification' \Vhile my invention belongs to that class of devices employed for the transmission of motion and the regulation of speed generally; and known as transmission gears; it relates more directly and specifically to automobile transmissimi' gea1's,-or that class of transmission gears intended and designed for service on automobiles; in which connection it is herein shown and described.

Some of the principal objects of this invention, consist in providing; transmission gears more especially intended, designed and adapted for automobiles; in which the construction is such that it avoids the objectioir able features,- now existing in this class of devices; such as .the stripping of cogs or teeth; alsothe disengaging of. gears. Also, in providing transmission gears in which there is only one clutch,instead of the numerous clutches now employed. Also. in so constructing any transmission-gears, that the drive-shaft will come on a horizontal plane or lev'el-instead of on an incline as heretofore ;thereby minimizing the amount of friction generated at'the universal joint of said drive-shaft. Also, in so constructing my device that there will never be but.

two gear wheels in active service at one time,'excepting in the case of reverse rnot'ion..thus further reducing the amountof friction, thereby promoting the ease of ..-\.lso in providing automobile transmission gears that can be operated from the post of the steering-wheel as well as elsewhere; thereby affording 'm0re ease and convenience of operation.

Further objects are to provide a device as abovereferred to, that is simple. in construction: is composed of few parts; is very efiicient in its results; and one that can be manufactured at a comparatively small cost.

This invention consists essentially, refertaken on line 2-2 of Figs. 1 and 4..

ring briefly and in general terms to-the structure covering my automobile transmission gears of the very peculiar construction, arrangement and combination of the v'a-rious mechanical parts and the minor details thereof; all of which will hereinafter be fully described in detail and set forth in the subioined claims all in accordance with the statutes in such cases made and provided therefor.

Referring tothe accompanying drawings constituting a formal part of this specification, and illustrating one form of construction for carrying out the objects and principles of -my invention. and wherein the same reference letters and numerals are utilized to indicate and point outthe same parts wherever occurring throughout the several views :Figure 1 is a side elevation of the dc.'ice,-looking at the side from which the clutch is operated; and Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the opposite side,-0 r the side for changing the speed of the gears. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the steering-Wheel and clutch operating and speed changing dials. Fig. 4 is an end View of the casing inclosing the gears,showing the cones for operating same. Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view through the inclosing casings showing the gears and clutch ;-taken on line z of Figs. 1 and. 4; and Fig. 6, is a vertical sectional view similar to Fig. 5',

In describing my said invention sp'ecificall v, and referring in detail to the various mechanical parts or elements of construct'ion. which combine to make up my automobile transmission gears as shown throughout the several views of the drawings and indicated therein by means of the characters of reference as aforesaid-and wherein for the sake of convenience in describing, the device is illustrated as set for slow speed forward with the clutch disengagedza refers to the steering wheel, mounted inthe ordinary manner upon the steering-post- (not shown)',for operating same in the usual and well known manner.

which is arranged. and supported at the front of the car in the usual manner, and which is provided upon one side with the A is the tubular casing inclosing said post-,

1 acters 1', B, 3 and. 2 ;f (see' Fig.3) which I signify: res'pectivelyslow reverse sped i fast speed; and moderate; speed.

Speed changing dial, 6 whichis; semi:cir cular in form, has its periphery provided with four notches'or recesses, one of which' j' 10 comes in line with one of. eachof said characters, and receives;'in'iits'turnthe-end of! i "from tubular casing A;

the spring actuated pawl c of hand'leyer Z,1ac cording to the speed desired,-as indi-e cated by. the above referred to characters said awlbeing-operated. y the fingers and thum Hand lever (l is attache '"tothe end of a shaft D, by which said shaft can be rotated or turned the required distance according'tdthe eed desiredfby. reasomof its 'bearjing ie, which extends from. the side vof said tubiilar casing the igroper distance. At the opposite end of sha D is mounted a small pinion E; the teeth or cogs of which ofw'hich issupported in bearin sf, depend coated be,- tweenbearings f, and carried by said axle "of pinion'" F, is a sprocket-wheel 'g',' ar0und' which moves sprocketchainjG which transmits motion downi Ttoanother sprocketwheel- H"-j a roun( l which said -sprocket chain also; passes, -.Spr0cket-wheel-' H is. formed on the same body or hub with .another sprocket-'wheel ,I, the as of which,

is journaled and turns in the"tops ofthe standards or supporting legs --which in practice will be suitably supported uponany convenient cross-piece or ,bodyunder" the 'car,- ande; not. necessary.- to "beifhere shown. Around; sprocket-wheel; 'I passes another sprocket-chain K, which transmits the motionfto another ;sprocket;wheel 7c,' around which saidchain passes. v

Sprocket-wheel Zc-is'intended. to be bolted or otherwise, connectedor' made {rigid with the inclcsing casing 10 ofthe gearsgwhich' is preferably formed in two sections cone nected by bolts" '11. as shown and-"Iis' provided with an open-ing'for' oiling or 'lubri catingtthe. gears and-shafts in the interior,

saidopening being'closed by a screw' 12- asshown-in Fig; 1:" and as sprocket-wheelie turns it will-carry .with it inclo'sing casing 10, thereby causing same torturn or rotate upon engine or-main shaft-L npon', which it hangs or floats? and with said casing will also turn or rotate the gems, shafts and cones. v

Engine shaft L which extends orLruns back from the engine and constantly revolves -or turns when the engine is running, and is revolubly journaled 'in the inclosing casing; is adapted'to ca'rry gear or co wheels: Z Z, Z and Zfl'which are'mounte engine shaft, is a gear wheel m carried {by a shaft m which .is revolubly 'journaledin casing l0-'see Figs. 5 and 6. -Shaft' m is" provided atits end with a cone M, Which is ;arrangedfor slow speed. forward when cas 'illg'lOis rotated by. means of said sprockets "and chains as above descfibed; andspring" pawl c has engaged the notch in line with [character .1 on dial b'as.he reto fore fully des cribed,-thus indicating that sa d cone 13 now at its lowest point and m alinement' with. and-ready to be engaged by the clutch;

and when. cone =M' is placed in engagement "with said; clutch, gear wheei-m of shaft'm andfgear'wheell? "of engine: shaft 13, will now no. the-pulling, whilelall other gear "Figl' 5, asmall idle gearwheelen'jrevolubly mounted on "a .short shaft projecting from i casing 10, is in. mesh with. gear wheel Z of arein meshwithanother pinion F, the axle"- said engine shaft, .while gear-wheel n. mounted on shaft n revolubly ijournaled in'casing-IOQis in .turn' ini mesh with idle gear-wheel n; Shaft- 02? j is provided at its end witli'a cone N, which s arranged for the'reverse speed, when casing 10 is-frotated by means of said sprockets and- ;chainsas above described,"and spring pawl 0 hasengaged the notch. line with character .R 5011* dial b---as heretofore fully described; thus-indicating. that said cone is newat its ,.lowe st point and in'alinement with and ready to be engaged by the clutch withf'said clutch,'gear wheel m? ofsha'ftn Iwheels"will run idle. -As clearly shown 109 and" when cone Nie placed in engagement 'idlegear-wheel n. and gear-wheel P of-the engine shaft will now do the pulling, while all other gear wheelswillf run idle. In .mesh with gear-wheel l of said engine shaft, is a gear-wheel 0, carried by shaft 0 whi'ch is .revolubly journaled in the casing 10 s ee Fig. 6. Shaft o isprovided at its-r end with a cone 0, which is arranged for fast speed when said casing is rotated'by "meansfof said sprockets and chainsas above described,.and spring-pawl 0 has engaged'the notch'in line with character 3 -on" dial b=-as heretofore fully described, thus indicating that said cone is now at its lowest point and in alinement with and readyto be engaged by the -cluteh :-and. when said cone 0 is placed in engagement with said clutch, gear-wheel 0 of shaft-0 in mesh.- with gear-wheel Z of the engine shaft, will .do the pulling; while all other gear-wheel s""'will run idle, 'In' mesh with gear-wheel Z -0f said' engineishaft, is a "gear-wheel p, carried by shaft 79 which is revolubly ]'0ur naled in casing 10. Shaft ,1S provlded at lts nd with a cone P, which is arranged for moderate speed when said casmg is rotated by means of said sprockets and cha1nsas above described ;-and pawl 0 has engaged the notch 1n line wlth character 2 on dial b as heretofore fully described ;-thus indicating that said cone is now at its lowest point, and in alinement with and ready to be engaged by the clutch :--and when cone P is placed in engagement with said clutch, gear-wheel p of sary to cause said clutch to engage saidv cones when the respective speeds are desired.

Tubular casing A is provided on its opposite sidefrom speed changing dial 1) with the clutch operating dial 9, which has marked upon its top or forward face -so as to b'e 'readily seen by the operator,the words lOut and In (see Fig. 3) which signifies respectively that said clutch is out of engagement o-r disengagedfrom the lowestcone in alinernent with it, or that said clutch is in engagement or has engaged the lowest and respective cone as indicated by the character on dial b as heretofore fully described. Clutchoperating dial 9 whichv is semi-circular in form has its periphery provided with two notches or recesses, one

of -which comes in line with each ,of the words Out and In, and recelves 1n 1ts vturn the end of the spring actuated pawl r of hand lever R according towhether it is desired for'said clutch to engage or disengage a respective cone for a respective speed, as indicated by dial Z). Hand lever R is'connected to the end of a shaft S, by

which said shaft can be rotated or turnedaccording to the respective notch in line with the word Out or In which it is desired pawl 1 to engage,--,by reason of the bearings s of said shaft extending from the side of tubular casing A the proper distance. The opposite end of'shaft S is provided with a lip or extension 8 to which is hooked the end of a rod 8 the opposite end Of which is in turn hooked to a bell crank lever t see dotted lines Fig. 1,which is fulcrumed at t to any convenient projection, member or other support under the car. Connected to the other arm, of said bell crank lever is a rope t the opposite end of whichis attached to a lever U which is formed with a bifurcated end uas clearly shown in Fig.

projecting from the two sections 14, forming the casing which incloses the-cones, and

clutch and drive shaft mechanismg there' being an opening left between said lugs suitable for said lever to extend through and move or play therein. The two sectlons 14 forming said casing, are provided with lugs 15, which receive small bolts by which said the lower section is provided on the sides an arm or brace 16 of any ordinary but suitable form of construction, which is here shown as broken off but in practice isintended to extend its full length and to terminate in a foot, by which it may be attached to the car so as to support said casing, thus bracing and holding same in position. Sections 14 forming said casing are hearing or hub,-see Figs. 5 and 6,-for the which of course extends back to the rear axle of the car, and is there provided with the differential gears in the usual manner. Drive-shaftV is provided with a collar a,

W; which rests and works on end of said drive-shaft, (see Fig. 5) ;.said sleeve is also formed with a collar 10 between which and collar '0, of the drive-shaft are suitably retained two springs w there being one of drive-shaft; which are here shown as comsleeve rw, when clutch W is in a disengaged position as shown; by reason of the clutch mechanism having been operated until spring pawl 1 has dropped into engagement with the notch in dial 9 in line. with the word Out ,as heretofore-clearly and fully described. Now by simply reversing this operation, by moving hand lever R downward or in an opposite direction from tl1at described, shaft S will also move or turn "in an opposite and downward direction, al-

sections are connected together as shown;

as more particularly shown in F ig.v 5,.with

each further provided or formed with al semi-circular collar 17 which constitutes aand also two retaining stops 0 which rests. 1n'a slot 12 formed 1n the sleeve w of clutclr pressed, by reason of the bifurcated end a bearing and pressing against collar w of if drive-shaft V, here shown as broken off but said springs arranged on each side of said lowing rod 8 to drop, when the tension of rope 15 will be relaxed, thus allowing lever U to move in an opposite or forward direction, when springs to will now react and expand throwing sleeve w forward when its clutch V will grasp or fit over and be brought into engagement with the lower cone in alinement with it as heretofore described; and if cone M the car will move at slow speed; if cone N reverse speed will be obtained; if cone 0 fast speedyor if cone P the car will be propelled at moderate speed: by reason of the gear-wheel on-theshaft of and. which is fulcrumed between lugs 14 the respective cone pulling with the opposite l mesh with, also'by reason of the drive shaft "ear-wheel on the engine shaft that it is is" jbein'g now set in motion, and the car will 1. The combinationin a device .for the transmission of motion; 'of, the main shaft and its caring; the inclosing casing mounted on said main shaft; other shafts each hava. respective cone is in position for adesired ing' a gear Wheel and a cone and journaled in said casing, an idle gear'wheel within said casing; a dial extending from the easing of the steering post for indicating when speed; speed changing mechanism connected with the casing of the steering post for rotatinga respective cone in position for a desired speed; another inclosing casing suitablysupported; adrive shaft carrying a clutch inclosed by said last mentioned casing; a'dialhextending from the casing of the steering post forindicating when said clutch has engaged or disengaged a respective cone; and mechanism connected with the casing of the steering wheel for operating said clutchfiso as to throw saine in orout of engagement with a respective cone;

.all substantially as and for the purposes described. 2. In a meansfor transmitting motion to automobiles; an engine shafthaving 1nount-.

ed-thereon gear wheels; a casing floating upon said engine sha-ftfor inclosing the gear wheels of same; several shafts each carrying a gear wheel and a cone, and journaled in said casing; an idle gear-wheel revolubly supported within said casing; an indicating dial and suitable mechanism connected to the tubular casing of'the steering post for throwing the, respective conejin alinement with the clutch so as to obtain the speed desired; a second casin inclosing the cones; a drive shaft revolu ly supported within said casing and arranged on a level plane below the engine shaft and provided. with a spring actuated clutch; a clutch indicating dial and mechanism extending from the tubular casing, and bifurcated lever for operating said clutch; all substantially as descr bed.

3. In a device for the transmission of motion: a main shaft upon which is mounted several gear-win els; an inclosing casing provided with a sprocket-wheel, and adapted to float upon said main shaft; shaftsjour naled in said casing each carrying a gearwheel and a cone, said shafts arranged in a spring actuated clutch; a dial extending from the tubular casing of the steering post,.

and having characters thereon indicative of the speed and when the respective cone is in, alinement with said clutch; a shaft,,p1nions,

sprocket wheels and chains for changing the speed; and a .dial extending from the tubular casing of the steering post having characters thereon to indicate whether said clutch is in or out of engagement with a respective cone; a shaft,- bell-crank lever, bifurcated lever and connections for operat ing said clutch; all substantially as described. v

4. Transmission gears for automobiles, comprising;an engine shaft provided with gear wheels of varying sizes; an inclosing casing for said gear wheels and provided with a sprocket-wheel-and adapted to float upon said engine shaft; several shafts journaled in said casing each provided with a gear wheel' in mesh with a respective one of the gear wheels on said engine shaft, and each carrying a cone; an idle wheel within saidcasing in mesh with one of the ear wheels of said engine shaft; another s aft also ournaled within said casing and having a gear wheel in mesh with said idle gear wheel and provided with a cone; another casing suitably supported; a drive shaft supported within said last mentioned casing, carrying a spring actuated sleeve and clutch; speed changing dial and mechanism connected to the tubular casing of the steering post, for revolving the gear inclosing casing so as to bring a respective cone at its lowest point and in alinement with said clutch; and a 'clutch operating dial and mechanism for throwing said clutch in or out of engagement with said lowermost cone; all substantially as described.

v5. The combination in automobile transmission gears; of the engine shaft carrying gear wheels varying in size; an inclosing easing upon said engine shaft; several shafts journaled in said casing and each carrying a gear wheel in mesh with one of the ear -wheels of said engine shaft. and provlded with a cone; an idle gear wheel mounted on a short shaft within said casing and in mesh with one of the gears on the engine shaft,

also in'mesh with one of the gear wheels of one of the other shafts; a dial extending from the tubular casing of the steering post for indicating the desired speed, and. mechanism connected to the tubular casing of the steering post for rotating the inclosing casing and the gears so as to bring the desired cone in position to give the speed indicated. on said dial; a drive shaft on a level plane below said engine shaft and carrying a the tubular casing inclosing the steering spring actuated sleeve and clutch, said clutch post; all substantially as described. 10 adapted to engage or disengage the respec- In testimony whereof I aflix my signature the cone for the speed desired; and a dial in presence of two witnesses. extending from the tubular casing of the GEORGE-F. GROVE steering post for indicating when said clutch VVit-nesses:

has engaged or disengaged the cone, and CHAS. A. ARNETT,

clutch operating mechanism'extending from W. S. RHOTEHAME.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Batencs, Washington, D. C. 

